Factors Affecting Children’s Mental Health

The Children’s Society and Barnardo’s have published a study that explores how factors at age 10 and 11 can affect children’s mental health at age 14 and 15. Data was analysed from the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS) and a new longitudinal analysis. Key findings include: children with poor family relationships at age 10 are more likely to have mental health problems like depression and anxiety by age 14. Recommendations include: training for mental health leads in schools to identify and act on problems that can harm children’s mental health; and more advice and services for parents worried about their teen’s mental health.